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CSOP students participate in an outdoor session.
Canadian School of Peacebuilding
Welcomes People from All Walks of Life
By Carla Lowe
Diversity is a big part of CMU’s Canadian
School of Peacebuilding
(CSOP), which has welcomed a diverse
range of instructors and participants
from around the world since it first ran
in 2009.
CSOP offers a selection of five-day
peacebuilding-related courses for
professional and personal development
or academic credit each June. Courses
are open to any adult, regardless of age,
race, country, profession, or faith.
Valerie Smith, co-director with
Wendy Kroeker, says a highlight from
the 2011 school was the diversity of
participants. Students came from
across North America and such places
as Cameroon, Philippines, Palestine,
and Australia; ranged in age from
19-76; and included CMU students and
staff, pastors, teachers, activists, retirees,
farmers, and stay-at-home parents.
“CSOP is a place where peacebuilders
from all walks of life can learn, share,
and connect,” says Smith. “It’s energizing
to see the depth of connection that
can occur in just five days, especially
between people who are often quite
different from each other.”
Instructors for the June 2012 CSOP
include Ovide Mercredi, Karen Ridd,
Stuart Clark, Ivo Markovic, and
Ouyporn Khuankaew, teaching courses
on topics such as Aboriginal peace
leaders, citizen advocacy, faith and
music, and women and peacebuilding.
“This year, we want to communicate
much more broadly that the CSOP
is valuable,” says Smith, who notes
there is a common misconception
that because someone isn’t a full-time
peacebuilder or student, that CSOP
“It’s energizing to see the depth of connection that can occur in
just five days, especially between people who are often quite
different from each other.”
Salah Alajarma and Coreen Froese plant raspberries
as part of a CSOP opening program.
isn’t right for them.
“We welcome and seek diversity at
CSOP,” she says. “Anyone interested in
learning about and working at peacebuilding,
whether in the workplace, at
home, or in society, will fit in here.”
CSOP 2012 runs June 18-29. For
more information, or to register, visit
http://csop.cmu.ca
8 Fall 2011